bl.necroscope2-第16章

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　seemed　to　leer　at　her　even　as　the　blackness　closed　in。。。
　〃Georgy？　We're　there！〃　Anne's　voice　broke　the　spell。
　Georgina；　reclining　in　the　back　of　the　car；　eyes　almost　closed　in　her　suddenly　pale　face；　gave　a　start　and　sat　upright。　She　had　been　on　the　verge　of　remembering　something　about　the　place　where　Ilya　died；　something　she　hadn't　wanted　to　remember。　Now　she　gulped　air　grate…fully；　forced　a　smile。　〃There　already？〃　She　managed　to　get　the　words　out。　〃I。。。　I　must　have　been　miles　away！〃
　Anne　pulled　the　big　car　into　the　car　park　behind　the　church；　braking　to　a　gentle　halt。　Then　she　turned　to　look　at　her　passenger。　〃Are　you　sure　you're　all　right？〃
　Georgina　nodded。　〃Yes；　I'm　fine。　Maybe　a　little　tired；　that's　all。　e　on；　help　me　with　the　carry…cot。〃
　The　church　was　of　old　stone；　all　stained　glass　and　Gothic　arches；　with　a　cemetery　to　one　side　where　the　headstones　were　leaning　and　crusted　with　grey…green　lichens。　Georgina　couldn't　bear　lichens；　especially　when　they　covered　old　legends　gouged　in　leaning　slabs。　She　looked　the　other　way　as　she　hurried　by　the　graveyard　and　turned　left　around　the　buttressed　corner　of　the　church　towards　its　entrance。　Anne；　almost　dragged　along　on　the　other　handle　of　the　carry…cot；　had　to　break　into　a　trot　to　keep　up。
　〃Goodness！〃　she　protested。　〃You'd　think　we　were　late　or　something！〃　And　in　fact　they　were；　almost。
　Waiting　on　the　steps　in　front　of　the　church；　there　stood　Anne's　fianc6；　George　Lake。　They　had　lived　together　for　three　years　and　only　just　set　a　date；　and　they　were　to　be　Yulian's　godparents。　There　had　been　several　christenings　this　morning；　the　most　recent　party　of　beaming　parents；　godparents　and　relatives　was　just　leaving；　the　mother　radiant　as　she　held　her　child　in　its　christening…gown。　George　skipped　by　them；　came　hurrying　down　the　steps；　took　the　carry…cot　and　said；　〃I　sat　through　the　entire　service；　four　christenings；　all　that　mumbling　and　muttering　and　splashing…and　screaming！　But　I　thought　it　was　only　right　that　one　of　us　be　here　from　start　to　finish。　But　the　old　vicar…Lord；　he's　a　boring　old　fart！　God　forgive　me！〃
　George　and　Anne　might　well　have　been　brother　and　sister；　even　twins。　Toss　opposites　attracting　out　the　window；　thought　Georgina。　They　were　both　five…ninish；　a　bit　plump　if　not　actually　fat；　both　blondes；　grey　eyed；　soft…spoken。　A　few　weeks　separated　their　birth…dates：　George　was　a　Sagittarius　and　Anne　a　Capricorn。　Typically；　he　would　sometimes　put　his　foot　in　it；　she　had　sufficient　of　her　sign's　stability　to　pull　him　out　of　it。　That　was　Anne's　interpretation　of　their　relationship；　she　being　a　lifelong　advocate　of　astrology。
　Leaving　Georgina's　hands　free　to　tidy　herself　up　a　little；　they　now　took　the　carry…cot　between　them　and　made　to　enter　the　church。　The　twin　doors　were　of　oak　under　a　Gothic　arch；　one　standing　half　open　outwards　on　to　the　landing　at　the　head　of　the　steps。　A　wind　came　up　from　nowhere；　blew　yesterday's　confetti　up　in　mad　swirls　and　slammed　the　door　resoundingly　in　their　faces。　Earlier　there　had　been　the　odd　ray　of　sunshine　filtering　through　wispy　grey　clouds；　but　now　the　clouds　seemed　to　mass；　the　sun　was　switched　off　like　a　light　and　it　grew　noticeably　darker。
　〃Not　cold　enough　for　snow；〃　said　George；　turning　his　eyes　apprehensively　up　to　the　sky。　〃My　guess　is　it's　going　to　chuck　it　down！〃
　〃Chuck　it　or　bucket？〃　Anne　was　still　reeling　from　the　door's　slamming；　her　expression　puzzled。
　〃Fuck　it！〃　said　George；　irreverently。　〃Let's　get　in！〃
　A　moment　more　and　the　door　was　shoved　open　from　inside　by　the　vicar。　He　was　lean；　getting　on　a　bit　in　years；　close　to　bald。　His　one　advantage　was　of　great　height；　so　that　he　could　look　down　on　them　all。　He　had　little　eyes　made　huge　by　thick…lensed　spectacles；　and　a　veined　beak　of　a　nose　that　seemed　to　turn　his　head　as　if　it　were　a　weathercock。　His　thinness　gave　the　impression　of　a　mantis；　but　at　the　same　time　he　managed　to　look　owlish。
　A　bird　of　pray！　thought　George；　and　grinned　to　himself。　But　at　the　same　time　he　noted　that　the　old　vicar's　handshake　was　warm　and　full　of　fort；　however　trembly；　and　that　his　smile　was　a　beam　of　pure　goodness。　Nor　was　he　lacking　in　his　own　brand　of　dry　wit。
　〃So　glad　you　could　make　it；〃　he　smiled；　and　nodded　over　Yulian　in　his　carry…cot。　The　baby　was　awake；　his　round　eyes　moving　to　and　fro。　The　vicar　chucked　him　under　his　chubby　chin；　said；　〃Young　man；　it's　always　a　good　idea　to　be　early　for　one's　christening；　punctual　for　one's　wedding；　and　as　late　as　one　can　get　for　one's　funeral！〃　Then　he　peered　frowningly　at　the　door。
　The　freak　gust　of　wind　had　disappeared；　taking　its　confetti　with　it。　〃What　happened　here？〃　the　old　man　lifted　his　eyebrows。　〃That's　odd！　I　had　thought　the　bolt　was　home。　But　in　any　case；　it　takes　a　wind　of　some　power　to　slam　shut　a　door　heavy　as　this　one。　Perhaps　we're　in　for　a　storm。〃　At　the　foot　of　the　door　a　bolt　dragged　squealingly　along　the　groove　it　had　worn　in　old　stone　flags；　and　thudded　down　into　its　bolthole　as　the　vicar　gave　the　door　a　final　push。　〃There！〃　He　wiped　his　hands；　nodded　his　satisfaction。
　Not　such　a　boring　old　fart　after　all；　all　three　thought　the　identical　thought　as　he　led　them　inside　and　up　to　the　font。
　In　his　time；　the　old　clergyman　had　baptised　Georgina；　he'd　married　her；　too；　and　was　aware　that　she　was　now　a　widow。　This　was　the　church　her　parents　had　attended　for　most　of　their　declining　years；　the　church　her　father　had　attended　as　a　boy　and　young　man。　There　was　no　need　for　long　preliminaries；　and　so　he　began　at　once。　As　George　and　Anne　put　the　cot　down；　and　as　Georgina　took　up　Yulian　in　her　arms；　he　began　to　intone：　〃Hath　this　child　been　already　baptised；　or　no？〃
　〃No；〃　Georgina　shook　her　head。
　〃Dearly　beloved；〃　the　vicar　began　in　earnest；　〃foreasmuch　as　all　men　are　conceived　and　born　in　sin…〃
　Sin；　thought　Georgina；　the　old　man's　words　flowing　over　her。　Yulian　wasn't　conceived　in　sin。　This　had　ever　been　a　part　of　the　service　that　got　her　back　up。　Sin；　indeed！　Conceived　in　joy　and　love　and　sweetest　sweet　pleasure；　yes…unless　pleasure　were　to　be　construed　as　sin。。。
　She　looked　down　at　Yulian　in　her　arms；　he　was　alert；　staring　at　the　vicar　as　he　mumbled　over　his　book。　It　was　a　funny　expression　on　the　baby's　face：　not　quite　vacant；　not　exactly　a　drool。　Somehow　intense。　They　had　all　kinds　of　looks；　babies。
　〃。。。　that　thou　wilt　mercifully　look　upon　this　child；　wash　him；　sanctify　him　with　the　Holy　Ghost；　that　he；　being…〃
　The　Holy　Ghost。　Ghosts　had　stirred　under　those　stirless　trees　on　the　cruciform　hills；　but　in　no　way　holy　ones。　Unholy　ones！
　Thunder　rumbled　distantly　and　the　high　stained　glass　windows　brightened　momentarily　from　a　far　flash　of　lightning　before　falling　into　deeper　gloom。　A　light　burned　over　the　font；　however；　sufficient　for　the　vicar's　eyes　behind　their　thick　lenses。　He　shivered　visibly　as　he　read　his　lines；　for　suddenly　the　temperature　had　seemed　to　fall　dramatically。
　The　old　man　paused　for　a　moment；　looked　up　and　blinked。　His　eyes　went　from　the　faces　of　the　three　adults　to　the　baby；　paused　there　for　a　moment；　blinked　rapidly。　He　looked　at　the　light　over　the　font；　then　at　the　high　windows。　For　all　his　shivering；　sweat　gleamed　on　his　brow　and　upper　lip。　〃I。。。　I。。。〃　he　said。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　George　was　concerned。　He　took　the　vicar's　arm。
　〃A　cold；〃　the　old　man　tried　to　smile；　only　succeeding　in　looking　sick。　His　lips　seemed　to　stick　to　his　teeth；　which　were　false　and　rather　loose；　and　he　was　immediately　apologetic。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　this　is　not　really　surprising。　A　draughty　place；　you　know？　But　don't　worry；　I　won't　let　you　down。　We'll　get　this　finished。　It　just　came　on　so　quickly；　that's　all。〃　The　sick　smile　twitched　from　his　face。
　〃After　this；〃　said　Anne；　〃you　should　spend　what's　left　of　the　weekend　in　bed！〃
　〃I　believe　I　will；　my　dear。〃　Fumblingly；　the　vicar　went　back　to　his　text。
　Georgina　said　nothing。　She　felt　the　strangeness。　Some…thing　was　unreal；　out　of　focus。　Did　churches　frown？　This　one　was　frowning。　It　had　been　hostile　from　the　moment　they'd　arrived。　That's　what　was　wrong　with　the　vicar：　he　could　feel　it　too；　but　he　didn't　know　what　it　was。
　But　how　do　I　know　what　it　is？　Georgina　wondered。　Have　I　felt　it　before？
　〃。。。They　brought　young　children　to　Christ；　that　he　should　touch　them；　and　his　disciples　rebuked　those　that　brought　them。。。〃
　Georgina　felt　the　church　groaning　around　her；　trying　to　expel　her。　No；　trying　to　expel。。。　Yulian？　She　looked　at　the　baby　and　he　looked　back：　his　face　broke　into　that　unsmile　which　small　babies　smile。　But　his　eyes　were　fixed；　steady；　unblinking。　Even　as　she　stared　at　him；　she　saw　those　darling　eyes　swivel　in　their　sockets　to　gaze　full　upon　the　old　vicar。　Nothing　wrong　with　that…it　was　just　that　it　had　looked　so　deliberate。
　Yulian　is　ordinary！　Georgina　denied　what　she　was　thinking。　She'd　had　this　feeling　before　and　denied　it；　and　now　she　must　do　it　again。　He　is　ordinary！　It　was　her；　not　the　baby。　She　was　blaming　him　for　Ilya。　It　was　the　only　explanation。
　She　glanced　at　George　and　Anne；　and　they　smiled　back　reassuringly。　Didn't　they　feel　the　cold；　the　strangeness？　They　obviously　thought　she　was　concerned　about　the　vicar；　the　service。　Other　than　that；　they　felt　nothing。　Oh；　maybe　they　felt　how　draughty　the　place　was；　but　that　was　all。
　Georgina　felt　more　than　the　cold。　And　so　did　the　vicar。　He　was　skipping　lines　now；　hurrying　through　the　service　almost　mechanically；　about　as　human　as　some　gaunt　robot　penguin。　He　avoided　looking　at　them；　especially　Yulian。　Maybe　he　could　feel　the　infant's　eyes　on　him；　unwaveringly。
　〃Dearly　beloved；〃　the　old　man　was　chanting　at　Anne　and　George　now；　the　godparents；　〃ye　have　brought　this　child　here　to　be　baptised。。。〃
　I　have　to　stop　it。　Georgina's　thoughts　were　growing　wilder。　She　started　to　panic。　Have　to；　before　it…but　before　what？…happens！
　〃。。。to　release　him　of　his　sins；　to　sanctify　him　with。。。
　Outside；　much　closer　now；　thunder　rumbled；　acpanied　by　lightning　that　lit　up　the　west…facing　windows　and　sent　kaleidoscopic　beams　of　bright　colours　lancing　through　the　interior。　The　group　about　the　font　was　first　gold；　then　green；　finally　crimson。　Yulian　was　blood　in　Georgina's　arms；　his　eyes　were　blood　where　they　stared　at　the　vicar。
　At　the　back　of　the　church；　under　the　pulpit；　almost　unnoticed　all　of　this　time；　a　funereal　man　had　been　sweeping　up；　his　broom　scraping　on　the　stone　flags。　Now；　for　no　apparent　reason；　he　threw　the　broom　down；　tore　off　his　apron　and　rolled　it　up；　almost　ran　from　the　church。　He　could　be　heard　grumbling　to　himself；　angry　about　something。　Another　flash　of　lightning　turned　him　blue；　green；　finally　white　as　an　undeveloped　photograph　as　he　reached　the　door　and　plunged　out　of　sight。
　〃Eccentric！〃　The　vicar；　seeming　a　little　more　in　control　of　himself；　frowned　after　him；　blinked　at　his　abrupt　disappearance。　〃He　cleans　the　church　because　he　has　a　〃feel〃　for　it！　So　he　tells　me。〃
　〃Er；　can　we　get　on？〃　George　had　apparently　had　enough　of　interruptions。
　〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　the　old　man　peered　again　at　his　book；　skipped　several　more　lines。　〃Er。。。　promise　that　you　are　his　sureties；　that　he　will　renounce　the　devil　and　all　his　works；　and　constantly　believe。。。〃
　Yulian　had　also　had　enough。　He　began　to　kick；　gathered　air　for　a　howling　session。　His　face　puffed　up　and